hydro vs stick transmition

Interests:I sell new Case/IH Tractors and Equipment ....one part at a time and now retired !

Posted 19 November 2008 - 07:52 AM

Since they both have their advantages depending on the job the answer is to have one of each !

I sold Case/IH, IH, and Farmall Tractors and Equipment...one part at a time, but now retired !
I live in Springfield, OH near the International truck plant.
I worked full time and then part-time in Urbana, OH in the parts dept at Farmers Equipment Inc., the Case/IH Dealer. Now retired
Farmers Equipment now with four Ohio locations: Urbana, OH 937-652-2233; Lakeview, OH 419-568-7750; Elida, OH 419-339-7000; and a Parts Only store in London, OH 740-490-7416.

I have more control with a hydro. I've used both and think the gear drive wastes time, money and fuel, just IMO. I can appreicate both, but a hydro is for me.

Not sure how a GD wastes money, or gas, my GD's mow on about the same amount of gas as my hydro's. The hydro's do save time, you can mow as fast as conditions allow, where with a GD you're stuck with three speeds.

I'd run a hydro before I'd use a GD w/creeper. Hydro is the best tractor for a tiller or snow blower, but I've blown a lot of snow with an 8 HP GD, the first full 36 inch pass is just really slow.

I did try to spot spray around all my trees & bushes one time with my 129 Hydro. ONE TIME was all it took, I use the 70 or 72 now ONLY. You run out of hands, one on the wand, one on the wheel.... Hmmmm Now how do you move the hydro lever and steer? With the GD you can shift to 1st or rev when it's convenient and ease the clutch in or out when you want to move. Plus for broadcast spraying the GD holds a constant ground speed much much better than a hydro.

Other nice thing about a GD is there's no hydro "creep". You can set the brake on the clutch pedal or shut the engine off and put them in gear and they'll be in the same spot when you come back. With my hydro's they always seem to like to move forward or backward a bit. And you can tow a GD, where with a hydro you shouldn't, even if it has the automatic dump valves.

I have two hydros and a gear drive is in my furure when I run up on the right deal. The hydros do change speed a lot, really pulls the engine up the hills, but I have a 14HP replacement koler with the walbro carb, and the gov acts like it won't work. I think it's just the crappy carb since it has a horrible flat spot and overall just runs like crap compaired to the worn out 10 horse. I drive with my hand on the speed controller at all times, but the yards I mow make me change speed and direction a lot. I like to "stripe" my yard and the MILs which means lots of turning and backing up. A gear drive would take forever doing it that way, but I sure would hate to try to pull a plow with a hydro.

Used to cut my grass with a 100 when I upgraded to a 1650 thought I died and gone to heaven.When I changed again to a 682 I knew I died and gone to heaven.Now I use a 782 with a Magnum 18 repower....7th heaven
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